EXCLUSIVE: Malala Yousafzai's father says she 'outwitted' Jimmy Kimmel

2023-03-13

EXCLUSIVE: Malala Yousafzai’s father says she ‘outwitted’ Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel – and jokes his activist daughter is ‘quick witted and clever like her mother’

Nobel Prize winner Malala was shot in the face by the Pakistani Taliban in 2012
READ MORE: Everything Everywhere All At Once dominates Oscars wins
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Malala Yousafzai’s father exclusively told MailOnline today that his Nobel Peace Prize-winning daughter ‘outwitted’ Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel with her sharp response when he ‘harassed’ her during a bizarre segment in the ceremony.

Kimmel was widely slammed for leaving Malala visibly uncomfortable when he approached her during a break in proceedings – and asked her an awkward question about Harry Styles and Chris Pine’s ‘spit-gate’ drama.

Malala, 25, who was a teenage education activist when she was shot in the face by Taliban militants in Pakistan in 2012, quickly hit back: ‘I only talk about peace.’

Sat watching the awkward exchange in his family home was Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai, who says he was proud of the way she handled it.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Yousafzai said: ‘That answer was very Malala. It was very clever, gritty and she outwitted Kimmel. She’s learnt all of that from her mother, who is also very quick witted and has a dry sense of humour. Like mother, like daughter.

‘A lot of people are focusing on the question, but I think they should concentrate on the answer, which was a lot cleverer.’

Kimmel, 55, left the Nobel Peace Prize winner, 25, visibly uncomfortable as he approached her during a break in proceedings and asked her an awkward question about Harry Styles and Chris Pine’s ‘spit-gate drama’

Malala Yousafzai with her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, who told MailOnline today: ‘A lot of people are focusing on the question, but I think they should concentrate on the answer, which was a lot cleverer.’

Mr Yousafzai also defended the TV presenter, insisting that he was not trying to offend or harass Malala.

He said: ‘I think people are being a bit over sensitive but that’s because they are very protective of Malala. I don’t feel as if Kimmel was trying to offend her in any way. It was just a joke which might have got lost a bit.’

Kimmel faced a backlash on social media after reading out a question to Malala from a fan named Joanne and asked her: ‘She asked, your work on human rights and education for women and children is an inspiration–as the youngest Nobel prize winner in history, do you think Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine?’

After her deadpan response, breezy Kimmel retorted: ‘You know what, that’s why you’re Malala and nobody else is. That’s a great answer, Malala. The winner is malala-land, everybody.’

The evening then took a further awkward turn as an attendee dressed as a real-life ‘Cocaine Bear’ from the movie crawled down the aisle and began to pester the filmmaker.

Kimmel called out: ‘Cocaine bear, leave Malala alone!’ as the activist looked on with worry.

Mr Yousafzai added: ‘I was watching the ceremony on television at home. I didn’t see the interaction between Malala and Kimmel and only read about it on social media in the morning. I find the whole thing quite funny and can’t believe that it’s gone viral.

‘Malala is more than capable of defending herself as she showed with her answer. She’s not offended but a bit puzzled by what took place. Perhaps it’s a cultural thing.’

Malala Yousafzai and her husband Asser Malik at the 95th Annual Academy Awards

Malala’s father’s praises his daughter for her response to Kimmel

Following the Oscars, Malala took to Twitter and, sharing a video of the bizarre exchange, and wrote: ‘Treat people with kindness.’

Mr Yousafzai also tweeted a video of the exchange and wrote: ‘Quick-witted’ followed by two hand claps and added: ‘Like mother like daughter’ with two love hearts.

Malala was at the Oscars in her role as executive producer of the documentary Stranger at the Gate, which had been shortlisted for an award but did not win.

Her father added: ‘She’s a very graceful loser who won’t be too disappointed by not winning an Oscar. I messaged her afterwards and said: “When you miss trophies, you win hearts.”’

Malala was a teenage education activist when the Pakistani Taliban hunted her down. They stopped her school bus and shot her in the face in 2012.

She survived and two years later won the Nobel Peace Prize. She is known for human rights advocacy, and campaigns for the education of women and children in Pakistan.

Fans quickly took to social media to slam Kimmel’s ‘disrespectful’ behaviour, with one writing: ‘I love @jimmykimmel but his interaction with Malala was one of the worst and most painful things I’ve seen on TV in so many years.’

Another wrote: ‘Watching the #Oscars from home, I was absolutely horrified with the interaction between @jimmykimmel and @Malala Jimmy, you were incredibly disrespectful.

One fan typed: ‘jimmy kimmel is a national disgrace. this woman deserves better’ while a second wrote: ‘why did jimmy kimmel and the cocaine bear just harass malala oh my god leave her alone.’

Another wrote: ‘I hope Jimmy Kimmel pays for making Malala answer that question. She deserves better than that!’

In the hours after the ceremony, she then took to Twitter and, sharing a video of the bizarre exchange, wrote: ‘Treat people with kindness.’

Oh dear: Jimmy Kimmel was branded a ‘national disgrace’ after fans claimed he ‘harassed’ Taliban shooting survivor Malala Yousafzai during a bizarre Oscars 2023 segment

Ill-timed: The evening then took a further awkward turn as an attendee dressed as ‘Cocaine Bear’ from the movie crawled down the aisle and began to pester Malala

Malala looked unsure and then responded: ‘I only talk about peace’ as Kimmel spoke to her

Oscar winners 2023: AT A GLANCE

Best Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Actress: Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Actor: Brendan Fraser – The Whale

Best Supporting Actress: Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Sarah Polley – Women Talking

Best Animated Feature Film: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Best International Feature Film: All Quiet on the Western Front

Best Documentary Feature: Navalny

Best Film Editing: Paul Rogers – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Music (Original Song): “Naatu Naatu” from RRR

Best Sound: Top Gun: Maverick

Best Visual Effects: Avatar: The Way of Water

Slammed: Fans quickly took to social media to slam Kimmel’s ‘disrespectful’ behaviour, with one writing: ‘I love @jimmykimmel but his interaction with Malala was one of the worst and most painful things I’ve seen on TV in so many years’

Dignified: Malala tweeted ‘treat people with kindness’ in response to a video of the chat

Another wrote: ‘Watching the #Oscars from home, I was absolutely horrified with the interaction between @jimmykimmel and @Malala Jimmy, you were incredibly disrespectful.

Another wrote: ‘I hope Jimmy Kimmel pays for making Malala answer that question. She deserves better than that!’

One fan wrote: ‘Malala looked so uncomfortable when jimmy kimmel was harassing her with his comedy’ while another penned: ‘Malala has a nobel peace prize and they have her dealing with cocaine bear and jimmy kimmel.’

Malala herself tweeted: ‘Treat people with kindness’ in response to the video.

She attended the ceremony in support of her nominated documentary, Stranger At The Gate, about an Afghan refugee and an Islamophobic US veteran who plans to bomb her mosque in Indiana.

Oscars 2023: Full list of 95th Academy Awards winners

Best Picture

All Quiet on the Western Front

Avatar: The Way of Water

The Banshees of Inisherin

Elvis

Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNER

The Fabelmans

TÁR

Top Gun: Maverick

Triangle of Sadness

Women Talking

Winning EVERYTHING: Everything Everywhere All At Once earned seven including coveted Best Picture

Best Director

Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNERS

Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans

Todd Field – TÁR

Ruben Östlund – Triangle of Sadness

Best Actor

Austin Butler – Elvis

Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin

Brendan Fraser – The Whale – WINNER

Paul Mescal -Aftersun

Bill Nighy – Living

Comeback king: Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for his performance in The Whale

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett – TÁR

Ana de Armas – Blonde

Andrea Riseborough -To Leslie

Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans

Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNER

Best Supporting Actor

Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin

Brian Tyree Henry – Causeway

Judd Hirsch – The Fabelmans

Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin

Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNER

Best Supporting Actress

Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Hong Chau – The Whale

Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin

Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNER

Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, and Ian Stokell – All Quiet on the Western Front

Rian Johnson – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Kazuo Ishiguro – Living

Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie, story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks – Top Gun: Maverick

Sarah Polley – Women Talking – WINNER

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNER

Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner – The Fabelmans

Todd Field – TÁR

Ruben Östlund – Triangle of Sadness

Best Animated Feature Film

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio -WINNER

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

The Sea Beast

Turning Red

Quite the imagination: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio won Best Animated Feature Film

Best International Feature Film

All Quiet on the Western Front – WINNER

Argentina, 1985

The Quiet Girl

Best Documentary Feature

All That Breathes

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Fire of Love

A House Made of Splinters

Navalny – WINNER

Best Film Editing

Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, The Banshees of Inisherin

Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond, Elvis

Paul Rogers, Everything Everywhere All at Once – WINNER

Monika Willi, TÁR

Eddie Hamilton, Top Gun: Maverick

Best Cinematography

James Friend – All Quiet on the Western Front – WINNER

Darius Khondji – Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths

Mandy Walker – Elvis

Roger Deakins – Empire of Light

Florian Hoffmeister – TÁR

Best Costume Design

Mary Zophres – Babylon

Ruth E. Carter – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – WINNER

Catherine Martin – Elvis

Shirley Kurata – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Jenny Beavan – Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

Iconic: Ruth E. Carter won Best Costume Design for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová – All Quiet on the Western Front

Naomi Donne, Mike Marino, and Mike Fontaine – The Batman

Camille Friend and Joel Harlow – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Mark Coulier, Jason Baird, and Aldo Signoretti – Elvis

Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Anne Marie Bradley – The Whale – WINNER

Best Production Design

Christian M. Goldbeck and Ernestine Hipper – All Quiet on the Western Front – WINNER

Dylan Cole, Ben Procter, and Vanessa Cole – Avatar: The Way of Water

Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino – Babylon

Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy, and Bev Dunn – Elvis

Rick Carter and Karen O’Hara – The Fabelmans

Best Music (Original Song)

“Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman, music and lyrics by Dianne Warren

“Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

“Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, music and lyrics by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Goransson

“Naatu Naatu” from RRR, music by M.M. Keeravaani, lyrics by Chandrabose – WINNER

“This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once, music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski, lyrics by Ryan Lott

Dynamic duo: M.M. Keeravaani (left) and Chandrabose won Best Music (Original Song) for Naatu Naatu from RRR

Best Music (Original Score)

Volker Bertelmann – All Quiet on the Western Front – WINNER

Justin Hurwitz – Babylon

Carter Burwell – The Banshees of Inisherin

Son Lux – Everything Everywhere All at Once

John Williams – The Fabelmans

Best Sound

Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel, and Stefan Korte – All Quiet on the Western Front

Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, and Michael Hedges – Avatar: The Way of Water

Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray, and Andy Nelson – The Batman

David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson, and Michael Keller – Elvis

Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor – Top Gun: Maverick – WINNER

Flying: The Tom Cruise led sequel Top Gun: Maverick won the Academy Award for Best Sound on Sunday during a ceremony which the 60-year-old leading man skipped

Best Visual Effects

Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank, and Kamil Jafar – All Quiet on the Western Front

Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett – Avatar: The Way of Water – WINNER

Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands, and Dominic Tuohy – The Batman

Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White, and Dan Sudick – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson, and Scott R. Fisher – Top Gun: Maverick

Best Animated Short Film

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse – WINNER

The Flying Sailor

Ice Merchants

My Year of Dicks

An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake, and I Think I Believe It

Best Live Action Short Film

An Irish Goodbye – WINNER

Ivalu

Le Pupille

Night Ride

The Red Suitcase

Best Documentary Short

The Elephant Whisperers – WINNER

Haulout

How Do You Measure a Year?

The Martha Mitchell Effect

Stranger at the Gate

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